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(No Model.)

W. H. STEWART.

UOMBINED PANTS PROTECTOR AND PULL STRAP FOR SHOES.

N0. 383.500. Patented May 29, 1888.

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IVILLIAM H. STEWVART, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

COMBINED PANTS-=PROTECTOR AND PULL-STRAP FOR SHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 383,500, dated May 29,1888.

Application filed January 3, 1888. Serial No. 259,668. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. STEWART, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pants-Protectors and Pull-Straps for Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

My improvement relates to that class of pants protectors which are attached to the backs of high shoes to hold up the lower edges of the pants and prevent their becoming soiled in wet weather. Many efforts have been previously made in this direction.

I have discovered that a single device may serve the two functions of a pants-protector and of a tug by which to aid in putting on the shoe. I have devised means of applying such to practical use.

The following is a description of what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a side elevation showing the pro tector in use holding up the pants. Fig. 2 is a corresponding view showing the protector folded up out of the way, adapted to serve as a tug. Both views show the novel parts with so much of the ordinary parts as is necessary to show their relations thereto. Fig. 3 shows the novel parts detached. Figs. 4 and 5 represent a modification. Fig. i is a side view showing the protector connected ready for use. Fig. 5 shows the novel parts detached.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where they occur.

A is a shoe, and B a'loop or oblong ring of metal secured to the shoe by a short piece of webbing or other flexible material, A.

G is a longer piece of webbing,sewed, like A, upon the inside of the shoe at the back. To the other end is sewed or otherwise strongly attached a spring-hook, D. The webbing O is of such length that it may be folded inward and the hook D engaged with the loop B,when desired, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus conditioned the device serves as a tug to aid in putting on the shoe. It is so short as to be no incumbrance while wearing the shoe.

In wet weather the hook D is disengaged from the loop B, and the webbing O is allowed to hang down, as shown in Fig. 1. \Vhile in this position the lower edge of the pants at the back is inserted within the spring-hook and remains supported thereby.

The flexibility of the webbing 0 allows the pants to move in every direction required with use; but the spring-hook retains its hold on the thick lower edge of the pants, and insures that it is held up at a sufficient height to be out of the wet. Vhen the device is not in use for supporting the pants, the hook D is again engaged with the loop B, to be used as a pullstrap for the shoe.

In my experiments I have made the short webbing A and the long webbing G in a single length, folded at the proper point, and secured to the interior of the shoe at the back, as is usual, by stitches. I prefer such construction; but this is not essential. There may be the ordinary tug at the front of the top.

The shoe may have elastic sides, or may be otherwise fastened, as by buttons or lacings.

Modifications may be made without departing from the principle or sacrificing the advantages of the invention. I can apply the invention by using a webbing of less length and attaching it to the ordinary loop at the back of the shoe, instead of directly to the shoe, making it perform in the same manner and with substantially similar elfect as if it were made longer and attached directly to the shoe. Fig. 4. is a side view showing such modification. Fig. 5 shows such a device detached, being a piece of webbing with a spring-hook at one end and a spring-ring at the other end, such as is often used for carrying keys. This springring may engage with an ordinary tug, making the latter serve, as the webbing A, to se cure the ring, which, in this case, serves the same function as in the other -viz to receive the hook when the device is folded up and out of use. In either case the firm attachment of the webbing at both ends and the avoidance of any buckle-tongues prevent either tearing out or breaking of the webbing, which so frequently occurs when the shoe is pulled forcibly onto the foot.

I claim as my inventionl. In a pants-protector and pull-strap for shoes, the ring B, attached to the rear of a shoe, in combination with a strap, 0, attached to said ring, and a hook, D, at the lower end of said strap, said hook being adapted to engage said ring, as and for the purpose herein 5 specified.

2. The webbing G, folded upon itself and firmly secured to the rear of a shoe near its fold, in combination with a ring, B, secured to Witnesses: its short arm, and a hook, D, secured to its H. A. JOHNSTONE,

to long arm, said hook being adapted to engage I M. F. BOYLE.

said ring, as and for the purpose herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at New York city, this 28th day of December, 1887, in the presence of two subscrib- 15 ing witnesses. i

7 WILLIAM H. STEWART. 

